By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: On Tuesday, while appearing on local NBS TV’s Barometer Akaasameme Show hosted by Mr. Zambali Burasio Mukasa to inform the country on her milestone so far in two and a half years in office, Uganda’s Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja stressed that her mandate emanates from Article 108 Of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; which is to champion duties of the ruling government in Parliament in conjunction with the speaker of Parliament, technical staff, OPM technical team.
“In collaboration with Ministers and the Head of state, a lot has been achieved in my two and half years in Office as Prime Minister.” Nabbanja revealed.
Article 108 A of the Constitution mandates the Prime Minister to: (i) Be the Leader of Government Business in Parliament and be responsible for coordination and implementation of Government Policies across Ministries, Departments, and other Public Institutions.
“One of my core mandate as a Prime Minister is to make laws and many have been passed. Different Parliamentary Bills have been tabled. 25 Bills were submitted in the First Session, 2021-2022, in the second Session, 2022-2023, 31 Bills submitted and previously in the third session, 18 bills were submitted, however more are still underway totaling to 74 Bills and many have been assented to by the Fountain of Honor H.E Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.” Nabbanja highlighted.
Legislative Agenda
On this, PM Nabbanja stressed that, they sit as a business committee to decide on things to be done in a Financial Year. Uganda’s Constitution has a Legislative Agenda adopted and formed by the ruling government. She said, Bills at times go through committees which in several occasions reside with the ruling government, headed by the MPs of the Ruling government.
Prime Minister’s Time.
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja has effectively responded to a total of 1269 Questions during “Prime Minister’s Time”. Of these, 665 are written, then 604 are check-in questions, (Question and answer straight away).
Road Network.
PM Nabbanja brought to light that Uganda is connected by Tarmac border to border and gave hope that though Uganda is a developing country, it is advancing to the construction of wider roads all over the country with able leadership of NRM Government led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“Uganda is connected by tarmac from North to South, East to West. For example, Iganga-Tirinyi-Kamonkoli-Mbale Road, Mubende-Kakumiro-Hoima Road and others are super good.” She quoted.
On proposed electric train project, she responded acknowledging the abundance of electricity due to the Isimba dam construction and on the other hand, “we are doing whatever is possible to continuously reduce the electricity bills (tariffs) so that every Uganda benefits and opt for clean energy for the domestic duties.” She assured.
Parish Development Model (PDM).
On PDM, She recognized efforts of HE. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the brain behind the developmental programme, She noted that they have provided funds to the youths and poor. “Most of the Parishes have received UGX.100Million and some of the people in the targeted category under their SACCOs have already received UGX.1M to boost their businesses in order to get away from abject poverty,
“The Model is based on seven pillars of Production, Storage, Processing and Marketing, Infrastructure and Economic Services, Financial Inclusion, Social Services, mindset change, Parish Based Management Information System and Governance and Administration, PM Nabbanja says, they are doing all their best to have all these well followed in the due course. Very soon, we are going to deposit UGX.75Millions to SACCO Accounts and the remaining UGX.25Millions will come in around May.” Said Nabbanja.
She however said that in the implementation they encountered some challenges like high numbers of people in urban areas unlike in rural areas causing shortage of funds as planned. She also cited the financial instability of the local Council Chairpersons who are the mediators in the PDM scheme. “Most of these are financially crippled far more than the community members themselves. When this challenge was forwarded to the President, he directed that they also be included on the scheme, however with exclusion of their family members believing that with these funds they can be able to perform their responsibilities well and genuinely serve the community and the PDM scheme.
OPM Relationship with Parliament.
Nabbanja highlights that so far, there is absolute good relationship between government, Office of the Prime Minister and the Parliament. “This has been visible through interconnecting governmental activities amongst different Ministries where numerous projects are carried out involving different sectors and ministries.
Challenges She Has Encountered But Tackled
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja notes that when she arrived in Office as the Prime Minister, the office was then handling flood cases. It was quite challenging to respond to these cases that had not been solved and yet they were essential. “Some of the Floods at the time were the Kayunga district floods that dislocated residents and suggestions to relocate them to a new area were made and put to action along with providing food supplies. Another was the Nakasongola district floods that also dislocated a school called “ Module Primary School.” In response, a new school was constructed and commissioned, these and several other incidences were challenging and consumed a lot of funds, fortunately all were responded to.” She noted,
Corruption:
During her two and a half hours in Office, She says, a number of corruption cases have been tackled, recovering some of the embezzled funds and returning them to their original purpose, with the responsible persons held accountable and a few still being tracked corruption offences.
Land Question
Nabbanja stated; “We have reduced land eviction cases and I want to commend Hon. Judith Nabakooba (Minister For Lands, Housing & Urban Development), for the great work done. The few land cases we have are majorly caused by land brokers because of their unrealistic activities, land issues have sprouted, I see this whenever i visit districts all over the country.”
Uganda’s Public Debt
PM Nabbanja stated that Uganda is one of the country that is doing well in servicing their public debt meeting its thresholds ably. Uganda is currently servicing UGX.86Trillions. “In 2023/24 FY we project to collect UGX.30Trillions and I appeal to Ugandans to pay taxes for the country to clear the debt and go forward.” She appealed.
LC Persons Elections Postponement
PM Nabbanja informed that limitation of the Electoral Commission Budget is what spells out this issue. “You know very well that the Independent Electoral Commission of Uganda is running a Budget of UGX59Billion which is very little. These elections were postponed on grounds of financial inadequacy to facilitate the elections; the funds are expected to be availed by Parliament and as Budgeted by the Electoral Commission, unlike the previous year where the Parliament denied them the funds to carry out the similar agenda. The UGX.59Billion is to facilitate; in meeting the presiding officers and carryout voters’ education prior the elections. Elections will be at all local Chairpersons levels. Therefore with the expenditure incurred in road construction, there is little left to facilitate these elections.” She answered.
In conclude, she urged that all individuals endeavor to take on income generating businesses and opportunities and stay out of poverty in the new year 2024, as poverty is avoidable. She also urged for proper utilization of the PDM funds by all beneficiaries to create enterprises that are profitable so as to ably pay back as it’s a revolving fund. This will in turn improve their lifestyles, urging them to avoid low value crops for those with small pieces of land especially crops like sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, tea leaves, maize, rather resort to crops like onions and the latter be left to those with bigger chunks of land.
Nabbanja is the current Woman Member of Parliament for Kakumiro District from 2021 to date. She served as Treasurer of the NRM Caucus (2011-2016), and as a Parliamentary Commissioner (2016-2019). She was also appointed as State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties on 14 December 2019 before being elevate to the position of Prime Minister of Uganda in 2021, a position she holds to date`.